The Divine Sister @ Stageworks, 7/29/11

by Michael Eck
Special to The Times Union
HUDSON – In the midst of a summer season that hasn’t really seemed able to let its hair down, “The Divine Sister” is — mixed metaphors be damned — a breath of fresh air. Even better is the fact that it doesn’t laugh with nuns, it laughs at them.
“Sister” is Charles Busch’s latest success and Stageworks is giving it a randy, absolutely irreverent production through August 7.
Busch usually dons drag for his own shows, but here funny man Stephen Polito — better known to the world by his nom de com, Hedda Lettuce — plays Mother Superior.
She’s the boss babe of St. Veronica’s, a dumpy Pittsburgh school that is falling down in more ways than one.
The good mother is surrounded by a motley group of penguins which includes the postulate Agnes (Amanda A. Lederer), who hears saintly voices in her head; the whacked-out Sister Acacious (Louise Pillai), who pines for her younger, pre-celibate days; and the frighteningly German Sister Maria Walburga (Sarah Dacey Charles) who has arrived at St. Veronica’s with orders from above, or at least from the mother church.
Director Billy Kimmel makes no efforts to soften Busch’s blows, or to add any class or grace to the proceedings; and we thank God for small favors.
This is comedy at its broadest with sex, sin and flatulence as frequent targets.
And Catholicism isn’t the only faith that takes a beating — Busch is nothing if not an equal opportunity offender.
Polito brings a wonderful comic timing to his role, mainly in the way that he pauses and poses before milking every punchline. And there are plenty of punchlines to milk.
True to form, Busch has based most of his play on classic movies. Often the dialogue feels pulled from old Mad Magazine spoofs of Hollywood. And Busch also nods to the insanity of that other cross-dressing Charles, Charles Ludlam.
A similar zaniness, fearlessness and willingness to go below the bottom line infests both men’s work.
Doug Trapp, as Jeremy is the sole “male” in the play, and he appears as a reporter turned film scout (as well as doing double duty as Venerius, the mad priest in the basement of St. V’s). Turns out Jeremy had a past with Superior when she was just Susan.
It also turns out that just about every character in the play had a past involving someone else on the set and much of the second act’s comedy is driven by untangling the mess of identities.
Molly Parker-Myers is also funny pulling double duty as the wealthy Mrs. Levinson and the prepubescent schoolboy Timothy.
There is nothing socially redeeming about “The Divine Sister,” which just may be its selling point.
If you’re easily offended, be sure to attend. It’s the best laugh everyone else will have all summer.